Dr. Powell-Coffman served as the GDCB ADVANCE Professor from 2007-2009 and was Chair of the Interdepartmental Genetics graduate program 2010 – 2011. She is a co-investigator for HHMI Science Education grants to increase student engagement in introductory undergraduate science courses, and she is a PULSE (Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education; www.pulsecommunity.org) Leadership Fellow. Dr. Powell-Coffman served as the GDCB Interim Department Chair July 2011–December 2013, and she formally accepted the position of Department Chair on January 1, 2013. Her main research focus are regulatory networks that enable animals to sense and adapt to their environments during development.